Native council to decide on Bumi status for 3rd-gen Sarawakians

 Snowdan Lawan, a state deputy minister, says the matter 'involves constitutional considerations'.

Snowdan Lawan, a Sarawak state deputy minister, said Sarawak had previously amended state ordinance to enable children from mixed marriages to be recognised as natives (Bumiputera) if either parent is a native. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 A Sarawak deputy minister said the state’s council for native customs and traditions would decide on a proposal for third-generation Sarawakians to be granted Bumiputera status.

Snowdan Lawan said the matter involves “constitutional considerations” and that any decision would rest with the council, Dayak Daily reported.

“It depends on our customs and traditions council. Let them decide whether it is a good proposal or not,” said Snowdan, who is deputy minister for tourism, creative industry and performing arts.

He was responding to a recent call by Julau MP Larry Sng for the Sarawak government to consider granting Bumiputera status to third-generation non-Bumiputeras in the state.

Sng has previously mooted a similar idea, when he proposed in March last year that Sarawakian Chinese be granted Bumiputera status. He said the ancestors of many Sarawakian Chinese had come to Sarawak about 150 years ago, and they and their families had stayed on.

Snowdan said recognition of third-generation Sarawakians as Bumiputera required proper assessment and careful consideration under both state and federal laws, including safeguards provided by the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

He also said that Sarawak has already passed an amendment to an ordinance which enabled children from mixed marriages to be recognised as natives (Bumiputera) if either parent is a native. - FMT